The Exciting Thing About Life

Today’s guest post is by the brilliant Stuart Mills who writes at Unlock the Door. I used a video for the intro because the concept, the creativity, the music and the traveling, got me excited about life.

Ever get really excited about something?

I hope you have. The feeling of excitement is an important part of being human. It means we get to generate feelings of joy and happiness and adrenaline. That pumped up sensation courses through our veins, and we truly believe that we can take on the world. We feel that whatever it is that we’re doing, is the very reason why we were born.

What gets us excited? It could be anything in the world. For some, it may be complex things such as tackling a major project at work, or getting ready to live abroad. For others, it may be simple things like spending a romantic meal with your loved one, or reading a good book. No matter what it actually is, the key is that you get excited about it. Everybody gets excited about something, right?

In theory, “yes”, everybody does get excited about ‘something’, but look at the people around the streets and the towns, and you’ll see that this theory hasn’t quite worked out in practice. There are many miserable faces. There are many dejected souls. These people haven’t found excitement, and it’s sad to watch whole lives drift by like this. Changes need to be made.

There Are No Spare Parts

If you asked 100 people what their ‘life-purpose’ was, the majority of them wouldn’t even know what you were talking about. If pushed, they’d probably respond with vague answers involving raising their kids or getting a better job, or even washing the car more often. If you asked me what I believe a ‘life-purpose’ is, I’d respond very differently.

Here’s what I think about life-purposes – everybody has a reason to be here on this planet. There are no spare people who can’t do anything other than drift around and live unfulfilling lives. If you’re living and breathing, then you have a specific reason to be here right now. Whether that reason is a grand one involving building great structures, or a simpler one such as helping your local community to grow, we all have a reason to live for. And do you want to know the useful part? Whatever your reason is, you’re going to get excited about it.

Embrace The Excitement

The biggest trouble people have with excitement is that they struggle to embrace it. The excitement is already there – it always has been and it always will be. But some people have a tendency to deny their excitement, and bury it under other obligations such as their chores, their bills to pay, and their time spent trying to please the boss. With all the stresses and strains of the world dominating our time and our thoughts, it’s no wonder that some people have forgotten to discover what actually works best for them.

And this is a shame, because everyone has a right to be happy. It’s a natural birth-right of each human being. So why bury it? Why deny what it is that makes you happy and pumps your adrenaline through the roof? If you embrace the very things that get you excited, do you know what will happen? You’ll feel an immense amount of joy, you’ll somehow ‘forget’ all of the world’s problems, and best of all, you’ll feel like you are truly living.

This is the effect that excitement has on you. Embrace the very activities or objects that excite you and life won’t look the same as before.

Life Doesn’t Have To Be Grand

There’s a confusing aspect about excitement which I want to clear up here. The aspect is that if what you’re getting about excited about isn’t life-changing or meaningful in some grand and heroic way, then it isn’t worth getting excited about.

This is false.

The feeling of excitement builds up inside us when our bodies produce endorphins, giving us the feeling of control and well-being whilst still retaining the stimulation needed to truly enjoy the task. This bodily reaction can take place when we get excited about anything, whether it’s something big and grand or something small and simple. I’ve had occasions when I’ve been excited about going for a walk in the park! Now that’s not grand at all, yet it still got me excited as I felt happiness and joy in the moments leading up to the walk, and the walk itself.

Excitement can come from anything, no matter the size or scope. So why restrict yourself to only seeking excitement from major tasks? Embrace the beauty of life in its simplicity, and gain a better appreciation for the simpler things in life. Everything has its value.

I Want You To Get Excited

I want you to take a moment to reflect on your life right now. Reflect on the times when you’ve been happy and excited. Think of those times where you could feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins, and remember what it was that actually got you into this state. It’s those things that get you excited, so keep them in mind.

Now with those thoughts, think of things you can do that will generate the excitement again. Knowing what it is that gets you excited, you can build on it and realise more moments in life that raise your happiness levels. It could be something as simple as going for more walks during the week, or it could be something much larger such as finally getting around to starting your own business. Whatever it is, if you can imagine it raising your excitement levels, get ready to do it, because it’s going to change your life.

Get excited. Get happy.

Stuart is a personal development blogger who wants to help you improve at life. He thinks you’re awesome. You can often find him at Unlock The Door, where he writes constantly to make it a better day for everyone, and you can subscribe to his content here.

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Really interesting process for finding purpose. You kind of start with the end goal here in mind, which is the feeling of excitement. We’ve all felt it before and we all want to feel it again. I think taking this path is also rewarding because it will force you to face fears and get out of your comfort zone.

Stuart – to be honest the last paragraph didn’t do much for me but I know it will for others. Plus, I feel bad even saying that, as it’s not like I have a blog to pontificate from 😀

I think the BEST thing about this article is the fact that you pointed out that people can legitimately get excited about doing things that aren’t life changing. It makes us remember that even small things are cool.

I LOVE that video, how cool. Thanks for sharing that Benny, that got me excited too! Just loved it.

My Mom and I took a road trip to Florida about 8 years ago and during that drive we started discussing what our life’s purpose was. We had both just finished reading the book. My Mom really couldn’t for the life of her figure out why she was here. I told her it’s because she’s such a giving soul. Not only to her family and our friends, but she volunteered at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She still knits blankets and hats for the patients today and some time back hand made every single ornament that hung on their Christmas tree. She’s got such a beautiful heart.

You are right Benny, we all need to be excited about something. Heck for me it’s just having another day on this earth. Shouldn’t everyone just be excited to be alive? I know, it takes a lot more for most people but for me, it’s just really pretty simple.

Loved this post and of course, the video. Great job my friend of putting us in our place and telling us to start living! It’s time to get excited! I know I am.

It’s a wonderful feeling Adrienne, when you can feel that deep calling inside you ready to burst out and sing to the heavens and the earth, that you’re ready to do what you’re most intended to do, because it just feels right!

Excellent post, Stuart Life is about excitement! Getting THRILLED about something. A lot of us lose this perspective because of the facade of work and school being more important. That is hogwash. I say find your creativity NOW!

Hey Stu! So good to find you here. And thank you too, Benny, for posting Stu’s thoughts.

I love what you’ve said about the role of excitement. Just think of the opposite of excitement and consider whether that would do anything to move us forward to greater accomplishment or happiness. So, what is the opposite of excitement? Indifference. Not likely to help much.

I agree that what we get excited about doesn’t have to be something huge. I get excited about reading great content, spending time with family, playing with my son, listening to my daughter perform (singing or piano). Nothing huge and life-altering, but often and significant.

Great post Stuart! If it makes you excited about your life, then it could be anything. No matter how big or small. Even if they are small, it could create momentum for you to be excited enough to do something major as well.

Awesome video! I love the clip where he claps his hands and the pigeons fly away. Every day is exciting for me because I’m always learning something new one way or another. Life is an amazing gift and I’m always counting my blessings. -Sydney

Those snowball effects are incredible Joe, once one gets going, you can let the momentum take control and cut down on your workload. It’s a wonderful feeling.

Thanks for the comment Joe 🙂

Sam Ensor

Hey Stu,
Fancy seeing you here ;). I loved this post and the video too. It’s always good to have a purpose in life and to have something to focus on. I am currently focussing on my future and career and helping others, such as yourself. I’m excited by the whole prospect and by what the future holds! Life is a wonderful thing and should never be taken for granted and we should enjoy every minute!

Thanks for the wonderful comment, you’re certainly improving your writing and your communication with these comments. I’m very proud of you Sam.

One day, we will both have careers of our dreams, and we’ll truly be happy. But we’re happy anyway 😉 xxx

Susana Aires (@Susana_Aires_)

Hi there,

What an inspiring post!Sometimes we actually forget how exciting it is just being alive and having so many possibilities available. It starts with the simple act of breathing and being still – being very conscious of ourselves and our surroundings… after that the possibilities are endless…

Hi Susana, it’s a pleasure to have you here, and thanks for stopping by!

Breathing keeps us within our centres, and helps us to gain focus. Once we have that focus, we choose what to focus on. From there, the excitement flows, but we must never forget that breathing calmly is where it starts 🙂

One thing you said that really struck me is we don’t need to be excited about something grand and life changing. It is so true. I want to allow myself more to get wildly happy over something small but special to me.

This video has been traveling around the interweb for quite some time. Exercising to riding a roller coaster to making love…these are all things that create endorphins. Endorphins = Energy = Happiness.

To answer your question, I believe that we should all live like mature children! This is how I live my life and I get excited everyday…for the smallest things!

Speaking of the video being spread around the interweb. Stuart – you’re really making a name for yourself!

I really think excitement is one of the most important feelings that we NEED to pay attention to. Everytime we get excited, our heart’s trying to tell us, “Hey! Hey! This makes me feel alive! This is what fuels me! Do more of this!”

If that’s not something we should be following and trying to experience more and more, then I don’t know what is.